A Port Wentworth man pled guilty Tuesday in a December 2012 fatal hit-and-run incident.

Daniel Edwards entered his plea to a vehicular homicide charge and will receive 10 years of probation under his first offender status. He also must pay a $1,800 fine and serve 120-180 days.

Edwards also pled guilty to failing to return to the scene of an accident under first offender status. He received five years of probation concurrent to the vehicular homicide sentence.

He was indicted Aug. 1, 2013, for hitting Mitchell R. Johnson, who was riding a bicycle along Hodgeville Road on Dec. 9, 2012.

A driver passing by on Hodgeville Road noticed the mangled bicycle and Johnson lying on the side of the road, and called 911.
Johnson was taken to Memorial University Medical Center with serious injuries. He died Feb. 1, 2013.

Edwards met with investigators on Dec. 10 and said he had hit something while driving on Hodgeville Road the night before. His vehicle was taken as evidence by the Georgia State Patrol. Investigators also said Johnson’s bicycle had flashing lights on it in order to help drivers see it.

The Georgia State Patrol issued a warrant for Edwards’ arrest in May 2013, and he turned himself into the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.

Edwards faced a maximum sentence of 27 years.